No charges over Tiki Taane's rap

Police say they won't charge singer Tiki Taane after deciding it was a coincidence that officers walked through a hotel at the same time he was performed the song **** the Police.

Police confirmed yesterday they would not pursue charges against the singer for a repeat of the performance that saw him arrested last year.

Senior officers were earlier considering a charge of disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence or disorder following Taane's show at Palmerston North on May 26. He was accused of chanting "**** the police" and pointing at patrolling officers. At the time, Taane said police had "their knickers in a twist" over him performing the song by American group NWA.

Area commander Inspector Pat Handcock said yesterday he had made the decision not to prosecute Taane. He said "parts of what actually occurred" remained unclear, but based on the reports of officers who were present, police were not confident charges would be successful.

"And it was, to a degree, coincidental that police staff were present at the time."

Taane's lyrics came as an encore to the almost identical performance that saw him arrested in Tauranga last year.